The famous frog bridge spans the Willimantic River, a shallow but sometimes rushing watery shaft that drops 90 feet as it passes through this old mill town. There are deep green tree glades on either bank sheltering an eagle, herons, hawks, cranes, fish, and of course, frogs.

November 22, 2008

Back to the land

Taken from the land, many of us are happy about it, but many others miss it. My grandmother and my mother were both gardeners to some extent. I lived in an apartment for many years where gardening potential was minimal. In my early 60s I went out and bought a house almost enterely because I wanted to garden on my own turf.

...her younger brother got the farm, and she started a heating and plumbing business with her husband and was very successful. Then in middle age, as often happens in middle age, she suddenly no longer had any patience for anything that kept her from the life she'd always wanted. She couldn't stay where she was. Land in Germany is so expensive, there was no way to assemble a farm if you didn't inherit one. So Marl sold everything and got ready to drag her two small children and her husband out of their home, their country, and their culture and head for Canada to become a dairy farmer. ...

She told me, "I was about to leave Germany when I ran into someone I went to grade school with. I told him I was going to Canada to farm, and he said, 'Oh, that's the kind of thing young people do, not people our age.'

"'No,' I said, 'I am going to Canada.' So he said jokingly, 'Maybe I'll move to Canada, too.'

"'No,' I said, 'you're too old. You've been an old man since kindergarten.'"

3 Comments:

I am just happy that my wife and I caught the back to the land bug while we were young enough. Now we get to raise our two daughters on the land and teach them about the beauties of nature, ecology, and conservation. They will be able, should they choose, to grow and cook all of their own food.

Back to the land is a very timely topic this week. I've been talking to a friend who is close to making her career goals. She's put everything else aside and now wonders if it was the right thing to do.

Personally I think it was the exact right thing to do because now she'll not have any regrets of not trying.

Another friend encouraged me to move to Boulder "while I could" - while I was not "strapped down" - who was this comment REALLY about? Me? Or his own decisions and perspectives? Tsk.

Kudos to Scott and his family, and thank you for the chuckle about the man who was too old to move to Canda since Kindergarten! ;-)

Here's the thing for me. Is my wonderful cramped apartment with wonderful narrow flower garden enough to get me where I want to end up? Or could I be saving equity for 3 years before I get "there"?

So many options for all of us eh? I think buying a house for the garden was a terrific choice for you! It will one of mine too..before long..! :)

...and yet, my garden space is not quite adequate for me. Not enough sun! At least not for most vegetables. There are plenty of flowers that do fine with 3-5 hours of sun, but many vegetables need 6 or even 8 hours a day.